Closing cover made of plastic



Jan. 14, 1969 I HEXEL 3,421,654

CLOSING COVER MADE OF PLASTIC Filed Jan 22, 1968 Sheet of 2 v YINVENTOR GUNTER KARL FRlEDRlCH HEXEL m fi ORNEYS Jan. 14, 1969 I HEXEL 3,421,654

CLOSING COVER MADE OF PLASTIC Filed Jan. 22. 1968 v Sheet 2 of 2 w i v 4 M f 1 19 f ll l lfiflll ill l i/ll INVENTOR GUNTER KARL FR\EDR\CH HEXEL ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,421,654 CLOSING COVER MADE OF PLASTIC Gunter Karl Friedrich Hexel, Brannschweig, Germany, as-

signor to Schmalbach-Lubeca-Werke Aktiengesellschaft, Braunschweig, Germany Filed Jan. 22, 1968, Eier. No. 699,671 Claims priority, application Germany, 5221. 25, 1%7,

Sch 40,136 U.S. Cl. 220-60 Int. Cl. B65d 43/10; 365d 17/02; B65d 43/16 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE There is disclosed a plastic snap over closure for fill packaging containers and including a closure body dimensioned to close over the open top mouth of a container body and having depending spaced flanges for receiving therebetween the edge defining the open mouth of said body, one flange embracing the container mouth portion exteriorly and the other telescoping the same interiorly, there being included a hinge film joint traversing the closure body to divide it into a fixed section and a hinged section subject to being readily swung up to provide access into the interior of the container, and there also being included weakeness lines in the container top embracing flange designed to be ruptured upon initial swinging open of the hinge section, thus to provide a tamperproof closure structure.

15 Claims The invention refers to a closure or cover made of plastic and placed on the mouth defining edge of a container provided with a border curl or similar enlargement, for example, a packaging container made of sheet metal, plastic, or the like, and held in closing position by reason of its closing shape and friction gripping closure over the edge of the correspondingly shaped container.

Such closing covers, also designated as snap covers, are known in themselves. They have the primary task, for example, in the case of packaging containers, of closing the filling material hermetically with regard to the exterior, such closure being of particularly significance whenever the filling materials are goods with volatile, aromatic components or hygroscopic characteristics. A closure of the kind mentioned should, however, also be so formed that it can be opened when the filling material is to be removed, or that it can be taken olf the container completely and later put on again.

In known covers, it has been found disadvantageous in that for emptying or removing part of the fill from the containers the cover, after being taken off, had to be placed aside, and in such procedures, the cover often fell away or was even lost. A further disadvantage consisted in that practical tamper proofing was nonexistent. Thus containers intended for achieving the securing of originality of fill, a purpose Well recognized and ever more frequently sought, were given a foil made of plastic, paper or metal, said foil covering the filling material. This protective material had to be connected with the container and had to be destroyed prior to the first removal of filling material, or the closing cover was provided with a banderole which in turn required a special machine making banderoles, and thus manufacturing costs were objectionably increased.

The present invention, eleminating the above-mentioned disadvantages, is based on creating a closing cover of the snap on types so formed as to make it possible to take filling material from the container without the necessity of removing the cover entirely. A further purpose of the invention is to provide a cover so formed as to include an originality protection which will have to be visibly destroyed prior to the first removal of filling mate- 3,421,654 Patented Jan. 14, 1969 rial, thus to indicate to the user that no removal of filling material has taken place prior to this initial opening by said user and that the container is filled with the original contents.

These purposes of the invention are in part solved through the fact that a portion of the circumferential closing shape and/or friction wall or flange connection between the cover and the open mouth defining edge of the container has been omitted or decreased within a certain area of the circumference and that the part of the cover in this area is hinged by a film joint so that it can be swung up to an open position, but only after rupturing or destruction of an outwardly visible pre-set breaking point, thus serving for the protection of originality. In the practicing of this swing away opening movement, the originality protection in the form of the preset breaking point will be simultaneously ruptured so that no additional manipulations or auxiliary agents are required in the destruction of the originality protection. The cover itself cannot become lost, get out of reach, since it is not necessary that the cover be taken off the container as a whole. The cover itself is in one piece, and thus it is also relatively simple to produce, and finally, a separate originality protection, heretofore customary as previously mentioned, is no longer required.

A particularly suitable development of the closing cover according to the invention will be obtained through the fact that the cover, which has been subdivided through the film joint into a fixed part of the cover, held on the open mouth defining edge of the container body, and into a hinged part of the cover, has a curvilinear outside collar encompassing and embracing the edge of the container body by means of an undercut, and separable through a pre-set breaking point within the area of the film joint, and that the fixed part of the cover additionally has an inside telescoping collar, whose undercut lying on the outside, forms with the undercut of the outside collar or friction flange, a notch or receiving enlargement adapted to the shape of said edge of the container body which notch or enlargement ends or opens downwardly in a slot, whereby the notch and slot have been dimensioned with respect to their location and size in such a manner that the closing shape and/or friction closure connection on the open mouth defining edge of the container. body in the closing position will take place under pre-stress, thus assuring secure frictional retention.

Through this development, a hermetically tight fit of the cover on the container will result on the one hand; on the other hand, 'it will also be possible to move the hinged part of the cover, to render contained fill readily accessible, without any special effort.

A further characteristic of the invention consists in that the outside collar or friction flange is longer than the opposing or inside collar or friction flange. As a result, a disconnection of the entire cover from the container body during a swinging open of the movable part of the cover will be prevented.

A further characteristic of the invention consists in that the outside collar or friction flange has been projected higher than the floor of the cover, thus to provide an upstanding ridge. In this manner, and in connection with the characteristic of the invention that the floor of the cover on its outside has a curvilinear groove whose extent, width, and depth have been adjusted with regard to the bottom edge of the container body, a central stacking of like containers, one on top of the other, will be achieved in an advantageous manner.

In order to facilitate the swinging open of a container part, without any edges encountering one another in a disturbing manner, according to one characteristic of the invention, the upstanding ridge in the area of the film joint has been provided with V-shaped cut outs. For the same purpose, the pre-set breaking point, which is a crosssectional weakening in the wall of the outside collar or friction flange, may be broadening out, say, for example, in a reversed V-shape, in the direction of the lower termi nus of the collar.

It has also been found practical, in view of the hinge connection provided at the film joint, to let the bordering edge between the film joint and the opposite preset breaking points run beveled on the outside collar, preferably in such a manner that the edge will be directed inwardly toward the openable part of the cover.

In order to facilitate the manipulation, and according to another characteristic of the invention, the hinged part of the cover has been provided with a handle or finger piece, preferably formed by a spraying action. An advantageous way of removing the packaged material or fill, especially in the case of relatively small packaging containers, will then be available when, according to the invention, the subdivision of the cover into fixed and hinged cover parts is arranged to place the hinge line transversely with relation to or across the longitudinal center of the cover, and so that the hinged part of the cover will preferably constitute about one-third of the total size of the cover.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

FIGURE 1 is an inverted plan view of a cover according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view of the cover taken on the line 2-2 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the closing cover shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, looking at the side from which the handle or finger piece projects.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary inverted plan detail according to the encircled section X of FIGURE 1, on a greatly enlarged scale.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the area of the pre-set breaking point shown encircled at X in FIGURE 1 and in detail in FIGURE 4, looking in direction of the arrow A in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 shows a packaging container and cover according to the invention, the swingable part of the cover being shown in an upwardly swung partially open position following a rupturing of the friction flange at the break lines.

FIGURE 7 shows a fragmentary sectional view of the closure of FIGURE 6, a second container bottom portion being stacked on the lower closed container portion.

The closing cover, designated 1 in the figures of the drawing, preferably is formed of plastic, and as can be seen clearly, especially from FIGURE 1, includes a stationary cover part 2 and a movable cover part 3, the same being connected with one another via a weakness joint or hinge film 4.

As shown, particularly in FIGURE 2, the cover has a curvilinear outside collar 5 whose inside has an undercut 7 directly at a transition from the cover bottom 6 into the collar 5. The cover part 2, furthermore, has a curvilinear inside edge 8, whose undercut, located on the outside, forms with the undercut 7 of the outside collar 5, a notch or receiving clearance 9, which notch is adapted to the shape of the open mouth or top defining edge of the container body and which ends in a receiving or entrance slot 10, Notch and slot 10 have been dimensioned in such a manner with regard to their length and size that the form and/or friction closure connection on the edge of the container takes place under pre-stress in the closing position (FIGURE 7).

As will be readily apparent, especially from FIGURE 2, the outside collar 5 has been made longer, or of greater height than the inside collar 8. Furthermore, it projects upward and beyond the cover floor 6, forming a bridge 11. Within the area of the hinge film joint, the outside collar 5, furthermore, has a pre-set breaking point 12 extending across the entire width or height of the collar 5, this being formed as a cross-sectional weakening in the wall of the collar, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 5. The inside collar 8 also extends to this area, as is clearly shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 4 and 7. In order to facilitate an opening of the swingable container part 3, the cross-sectional weakening 12 in the wall of the outside collar 5 may extend in the direction of the free end of the collar broadening out, for example, in a reversed V-shape. Such a development is shown in FIGURE 5. It has also been found practical, and for the same purpose, to cut out the bridge 11 in a V-shape in the area of the film joint 4, as clearly shown in FIGURE 3. The V-shaped cut out has been designated by the numeral 13. Furthermore, it has been found favorable for the hingeability of the cover part 3 to develop the limiting edge 14 between the film joint and the opposing pre-set breaking points 12 in such a way that the latter will run in a beveled manner along the outside collar preferably directed inwardly in the direction of the hingeable cover part 3. In FIGURE 4 this development has 'been shown on an enlarged scale. If, indeed, the pre-set breaking point 12 should break within the area of this limiting edge 14 during the opening of the cover part 3, then two edge parts develop which run past one another during the opening and closing of the cover part 3 in a manner which will thus not disturb the cover part swinging movement, moreover, this arrangement of the ruptured edges will clearly show that the container has been opened.

In FIGURE 2 of the drawing, 15 designates a groove running about the upper face margin of the cover floor 6, this groove being proportioned and placed to receive the bottom edge extremity of a container when stacked as shown in FIGURE 7.

In order to facilitate the opening and closing of the cover part 3, a handle or finger piece designated 16 has been provided which, for practical purposes, has been sprayed on to the cover part 3 itself, and for purposes of reinforcement may be provided with ribs 17.

In the herein disclosed design, shown by way of example, a packaging of an elongated oval shape is illustrated. Correspondingly, the cover shows the same kind of shape. At the same time, the subdivision of the cover 2, 3 into a fixed part 2 and a hinged cover part 3 has been made transversely to the longitudinal extent or axis of the cover 2, 3, the parts being so proportioned that the hinged part 3 make up about one-third of the total size of the cover. Such a development is naturally not binding; and it is to be understood that the container and the cover may have any desired cross-section, for example, round, rectangular, or something similar. Also, the subdivision into a fixed and hinged cover part is according to a persons desire, insofar as a guarantee is given that the fixed cover part has sufficient support possibilities and fixed seat so that a sufficiently secure fit will be guaranteed during the opening and closing of the movable or swingable cover part 3. The subdivision into a fixed and hinged cover part can, for example, also be accomplished in the longitudinal extent of the cover, if desired.

A long, oval sheet metal container 18 has been shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, the upper edge of which has a border 19, i.e., an outside bulge, here in the form of an outwardly turned curl. The bottom 20 (FIGURE 7) has been connected with the container 18 through a normal bottom seam or folding border 21. In place of the metal container, one can naturally also use, for example, a blown hollow body made of plastic, whose upper end will carry a bulge or comparable open mouth defining edge reinforcement over which the cover can be snapped into place. The closing cover 1, as shown for example in FIGURE 3, is placed over the open end of the container and is put into its closing position through axially applied pressure. At the same time, as shown in FIGURE 7, the border or reinforcing curl 19 will reach under pre-stress through the slot into the notch 9. This results in a hermetic closure by shape and/or friction closure connection. The outside collar 5 embraces the open container top defining edge and at the same time lies about parallel to the wall of the container body 19. There now exists a hermetic closure which, in addition, has a tamperproof feature or originality protection.

If now the container is to be opened before removal of its contents, the hinged cover part 3, which, for the uninitiated has been marked by the handle 16, merely has to be swung up in the direction of the upper arrow in the FIGURE 6, or in the opening direction. At the same time, the preset breaking point 12 will tear and a sulficiently large opening will be provided for the removal of the contents, as will be readily apparent by reference to FIGURE 6. After taking out of the contents, the cover part 3 can again be hermetically sealed through a simple downward swinging or return movement in the direction of the lower arrow and through a suitable pressure application. At the same time the undercut 7 will surround the edge curl or border 19 and the container is again closed tightly. The film joint 4 whose construction and mode of operation are known per se acts as a hinge during the described movements of the cover.

The bridge 11 and groove 15 make possible a central stacking of the same type and size of containers as can be seen, for example, from FIGURE 7. At the same time the folding border or seam of the stacked container bottom fits into the groove 15, and the side wall of the container is secured against tilting through the bridge 11.

The shaping of the cover according to the invention and as herein disclosed, makes it possible to spray on, for example, projections, hooks, or similar things, as additional means, preferably on the outside collar 5 and on its outside, which additional means can serve for suspending or for receiving of advertising material for the packaged fill. These parts, arranged on the cover, can, if need be, be provided with a cross-sectional weakening so that they can be broken off, twisted off, or taken off in some similar manner after removal of the advertising labels or similar things. For practical purposes, such holding means are sprayed onto the fixed cover part 2, for example, located approximately diagonally opposite the handle 16.

While preferred structural closure forms have been disclosed herein, it is to be understood that variations in the structural features may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A plastic snap over closure for fill packaging containers and including a closure body dimensioned to close over the open top mouth of a container body and having depending spaced flanges for receiving therebetween the edge defining the open top mouth of said body, one of said flanges embracing the container mouth portion exteriorly and the other of said flanges telescoping said edge interiorly, there being included a hinge film joint traversing the closure body to divide it into a fixed section and a hinged section subject to being readily swung up to provide access into the interior of the container, and there also being included weakness areas in the container open top embracing flange designed to be ruptured upon initial swinging open of the hinge section, thus to provide a tamperproof closure structure.

2. Closure structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the inner telescoping flange terminates approximately opposite the weakness areas in the container open top embracing flange so as to depend only from the fixed section of the closure body and not extend over any portion of the hinged section.

3. Closure structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the weakness areas in the container open top embracing flange are V-shaped.

4. Closure structure as defined in claim -1 wherein the weakness areas in the container open top embracing flange are V-shaped and formed at least in part by angularly disposed thin wall portions effective to provide rupture edges upon swinging open of the hinged section which can readily pass one another during subsequent opening and closing movements of the hinged section.

5. Closure structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the container open top embracing flange has a circumferential recess in its inwardly directed face and adjacent the closure body in which to receive an enlargement formed on the open top extremity of a container body on which the closure is applied.

6. Closure structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the container open top embracing flange has a circumferential recess in its inwardly directed face and adjacent the closure body in which to receive an enlargement formed on the open top extremity of a container body on which the closure is applied, said last mentioned flange also having an inwardly and upwardly sloping wall opening into said circumferential recess through a restricted slotway opposing the telescoping flange, thereby to provide for a prestressed gripping action on container body mounting.

7. Closure structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the hinged section has an integral outwardly projected finger piece redily graspable and manipulable for facilitating swinging of the hinged section to open and closed positions.

8. Closure structure as defined in claim 2 wherein the hinged section has an integral outwardly projecting finger piece readily graspable and manipulable for facilitating swinging of the hinged section to open and closed positions.

9. Closure structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the closure body is oval in shape and the hinge film joint traverses the long axis of the oval at a point spaced from the center of the oval toward a small end thereof.

'10. Closure structure as defined in claim wherein the closure body is oval in shape and the hinge film joint traverses the long axis of the oval at a point spaced from the center of the oval toward a small end thereof, and wherein the inner telescoping flange terminates approximately opposite the weakness areas in the container open top embracing flange so as to depend only from the fixed section of the closure body and not extend over any portion of the hinged section.

'11. Closure structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the inner telescoping flange terminates approximately opposite the Weakness areas in the container open top embracing flange so as to depend only from the fixed section of the closure body and not extend over any portion of the hinged section, and said telescoping flange being of lesser depth than the container mouth portion embracing flange.

.12. Closure structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the inner telescoping flange terminates approximately opposite the weakness areas in the container open top embracing flange so as to depend only from the fixed section of the closure body and not extend over any portion of the hinged section, and said telescoping flange being of lesser depth than the container mouth portion embracing flange, and wherein the container open top embracing flange has a circumferential recess in its inwardly directed face and adjacent the closure body in which to receive an enlargement formed on the open top extremity of a container body on which the closure is applied, and the open top embracing flange has an inwardly and upwardly sloping wall opening into said circumferential recess through a restricted slotway opposing the telescoping flange, thereby to provide for a pre-stressed gripping action on container body mounting.

13. Closure structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the container mouth embracing flange is extended above the closure body to provide a stacking rib within which to receive a stacked container.

7 8 14. Closure structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the References Cited container mouth embracing flange is extended above the UNITED STATES PATENTS closure body to provide a stacking rib within which to receive a stacked container, and said closure body having a 3223'275 12/1965 Rlce 220*31 nesting groove in its upper surface immediately inward 5 3,322,299 5/1967 Foster of said upstanding stacking rib.

15. Closure structure as defined in claim 9 wherein the THERON CONDON rimary Examiner container mouth embracing flange is extended above the G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner. closure body to provide a stacking rib within which to receive a stacked container, and said closure body having a w nesting groove in its upper surface immediately inward 27 of said upstanding stacking rib. 

